May 1643.
[3 May, 1643.]
Deputy Lieutenants and others commanding Forces to disperse Rioters.; Justices, etc., to be aiding
The Lords and Commons having received information that
certain Riotous and disorderly Persons, in great numbers have
been, and are gathered together in and about Meere, Shaftsbury,
and Brome, Selwood, and other places thereabouts, in the
Counties of Dorset, Sommerset, and Wilts, and having Armed
themselves with Musquets, Fowling Pieces, and other weapons,
break open Houses, throw down Inclosures, Rob and spoile divers
of the Kings Subjects, and commit many other outrages, to the
disturbance of the Peace and quiet of those Counties, and are
come to that height of insolency, as openly to professe they
neither care for Order of Parliament, nor Proclamation: They
the said Lords and Commons taking into their serious Considerations, the evill consequence that might insue, if such Riotous
Assemblies should not be suppressed, and the Offendours brought
to condign punishment: And to prevent the like for the time to
come, lest upon such occasions, Persons ill-affected to the State,
may meet together, and grow into a Body, and so break out into
open Warre and Hostility; have thought fit and Ordered, and
doe hereby Order and appoint, Sir Walter Erle for the County
of Dorset, Sir John Horner for the County of Sommerset, and
Sir Edward Hungerford for the County of Wilts, and all other
the Deputy Lieutenants of those severall Counties, joyntly, and
respectively, and all others who have command of any the
Forces raised by the Authority of Parliament in any of the said
Counties; upon notice to them given, or knowledge had of any
such Assemblies, to repaire with sufficient Forces to those Places
where they shall be, and them suppresse and disperse and lay
hold on the principall Ringleaders and Abettors, that they may
receive such punishment as they deserve. And all Justices of
Peace, Constables, and other his Majesties Officers and loving
Subjects are hereby required to be ayding and assisting in the
said Service: As they will answer the contrary to the Lords aiding
and Commons in Parliament.